Mahama assures EC deputies: no preferential treatment for me, my party or government
President John Dramani Mahama has urged the newly sworn-in Deputy Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission (EC) to uphold impartiality and ensure equal treatment for all political parties and candidates, stressing that neither he, his party nor his government should receive preferential treatment.
The new deputy chairpersons are Emelia Afi Agbenyo, formerly Deputy Director for Operations at the Ghana TVET Service, and Dr Joseph Kweku Asamoah, a former Director of Finance at the EC.
Speaking at their swearing-in ceremony on Monday, October 12, President Mahama charged the appointees to exercise their authority fairly and in accordance with the law to safeguard the right of Ghanaians to freely elect their leaders.
“As President, I expect no preferential treatment from the Electoral Commission for myself, my party or my government. You must have the courage to uphold what is right even when it is inconvenient for those in power,” he said.
The President emphasised that the EC’s credibility depended on its ability to apply the same standards to all political actors, cautioning the new officials against allowing partisan interests to influence their decisions.
He further urged them to strengthen public confidence in the Commission through transparency, accountability and constructive engagement with stakeholders.
President Mahama called on the deputy chairpersons to listen to the concerns of political parties, civil society organisations, the media and the general public, and to address legitimate issues promptly.
He also advised them to provide accurate information to counter misinformation and to acknowledge and correct mistakes whenever they occur.
Highlighting the professional backgrounds of the appointees, the President said Dr Asamoah’s expertise in law, accounting, economics and electoral administration would be an asset to the Commission.
He expressed confidence that the experience would help strengthen the EC’s internal systems, improve the training of electoral officers and promote the efficient management of public resources.
Dr Asamoah, who lectures in law at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), previously served the Commission as Director of Finance, Director of the Training Centre and Head of Audit.
For Ms Agbenyo, President Mahama highlighted her experience in public administration, institutional leadership and stakeholder engagement, particularly her role in coordinating operations and implementing policies at the Ghana TVET Service.
He also cited her experience in promoting gender and disability inclusion, urging her to help ensure that electoral processes are accessible to all eligible voters, including persons facing physical, social or communication barriers.
The appointments come amid changes in the EC’s senior leadership. These include the resignation of Dr Bossman Asare, whose responsibilities included Corporate Affairs, effective July 31, 2026, and the retirement of former Deputy Chairperson in charge of Operations, Samuel Tettey, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age.
Source: Sekunde FM
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